Written by Bren O'Brien
Cover image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club
In this week's Hong Kong Bloodstock Review, we look at promising Toronado (Ire) 4-year-old Sight Spirit, who looks destined for the Classic Series after notching his third straight win at Sha Tin for trainer John Size on Sunday,
The Mill Park graduate has made quite an impression on both Size and jockey Joao Moreira since his victory over 1400 metres late in November, and after following that up with a 3l win over the same distance in December and then backing that up with a 2.25l success up to 1600 metres for the first time on Sunday, he appears set for bigger and better things.
Moreira, who rode four winners on the day, singled out Sight Spirit for special praise, with the first leg of the Classic Series, the Classic Mile, set to be run on January 30.
"I was asked before the race if this horse should be considered for the Classic Series and I kind of indicated that because the more ground he steps to, he was going to appreciate it even more and he showed that (with the win),” Moreira said.
“He did win with a lot of authority – a very easy win – and he feels that if he steps up to even more ground, he will appreciate that even more. So, it’s very nice to be riding these kinds of horses.”
“He (Sight Spirit) did win with a lot of authority – a very easy win – and he feels that if he steps up to even more ground, he will appreciate that even more. So, it’s very nice to be riding these kinds of horses.” - Joao Moreira
Moreira has a host of options for the Classic Mile, including the Danny Shum-trained Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who won the final race on the program. He will make his call early this week.
Sight Spirit, an $80,000 purchase by John Foote from the Mill Park draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, led home a quinella for Swettenham Stud resident Toronado, defeating Captain Win.
Sight Spirit as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sight Spirit, who is out of Duke Of Marmalade (Ire) mare Marmelo and is a great-grandson of G1 VRC Oaks winner Tributes (Quest For Fame {GB}), trialled under the name Kapranos in Australia for trainer Patrick Payne before being exported to Hong Kong.
He is one of seven individual winners for Toronado, who sits third on the Hong Kong Sires' Premiership by winners, behind Per Incanto (USA) (10) and Deep Field (eight).
Moreira En Pointe
Earlier, Moreira had ridden the Frankie Lor-trained En Pointe (Hallowed Crown) to victory in the he Class 4 Shek Kip Mei H. over 1400 metres. The Phillipa Duncan-bred 4-year-old closed well to break his maiden at his third start in Hong Kong.
Lor, who leads the trainers’ championship with 38 wins, believes the gelding, who is one of two Hong Kong winners by Twin Hills Stud's Hallowed Crown this season, will ultimately be suited over longer trips.
“I think he’s a nice horse. He was good over 1400 metres today after two runs at 1200. I think he will get a mile in the future,” Lor said.
“I think he’s (En Pointe) a nice horse. He was good over 1400 metres today after two runs at 1200. I think he will get a mile in the future." - Frankie Lor
Initially sold to John Foote for $38,000 through the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2019 Inglis Scone Yearling Sale, he won both his trials in Australia under the name Sanctuary Hill for Allan and Jason Williams before heading to Hong Kong.
Moreira was also responsible for winning the opening event, the Class 5 Un Chau H., on another Australian-bred horse, El Valiente (Savabeel).
The Caspar Fownes-trained 5-year-old had been winless through his first 18 starts in Hong Kong, but stormed away to win by 3.5l. in the 1650-metre contest on the All Weather Track.
El Valiente as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
He was initially a $260,000 graduate from the draft of Milburn Creek at the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. His stakes-placed dam, Valdemoro (Encosta De Lago), is a half-sister to international Group 1 winner and sire Highland Reel (Ire) from the family of Elvstroem and Haradasun.
Waikato Stud's Savabeel now has six winners for the Hong Kong season.
Western Australian-bred Apache Pass (War Chant {USA}) broke his Hong Kong duck for Paul O'Sullivan in the Class 4 Tai Hang Tung H., while the Fownes-trained The Hulk (Spirit Of Boom), who, when known as Spirits Aubeer was a three-time winner in New Zealand for Nigel Tiley, won the Class 3 Cheung Sha Wan H.
The other Australian-bred winner on the card was Cordyceps Two (Kermadec {NZ}), who strode to an upset victory in the Class 4 So Uk H. for jockey Vagner Borges and trainer Dennis Yip.
Australian sires Fastnet Rock and Starspangledbanner also had winners on the day with Northern Hemisphere-bred progeny Golden Empire (Fr) and California Spangle (Ire) respectively.
